Crowe was diagnosed with terminal double-hit lymphoma in September 2014. He enjoyed a 13-year international career from 1982-95, including four years as captain.

File photo of f ormer New Zealand cricketer Martin Crowe who died on Thursday, March 3, 2016 at the age of 53. (AFP File Photo )

New Zealand’s greatest batsman Martin Crowe died on Thursday at the age of 53 after a long battle with cancer, his family said.

“It is with heavy hearts that the family of Martin Crowe, MBE, advise his death,” they said in a statement.

“Diagnosed in September 2014 with terminal double-hit lymphoma, he passed away peacefully today, Thursday, March 3, in Auckland surrounded by family.”

Crowe enjoyed a 13-year international career from 1982-95, including four years as captain.

He had a Test average of 45.36 in 77 matches and held a slew of New Zealand batting records when he retired, including most Test runs (5,444), highest Test score (299), most 50s (35) and most hundreds (17) -- the last of which still stands.

In his retirement, Crowe devised a new ultra-short form of the game called Cricket Max for his new employer Sky Television, which was pitched to British officials and helped lay the foundation for the modern Twenty20 revolution.